In Pictures | Sonia Gandhi’s Memoir Reveals A Life In Politics And Beyond
From her early years and personal life to her decades at the helm of the Congress, Sonia Gandhi’s journey has been marked by political upheavals, landmark meetings and defining moments in Indian politics. As her memoir offers a glimpse into her life beyond the public eye and into her personal milestones, political engagements and encounters with prominent world leaders.
Congress MP Sonia Gandhi, in her memoir "Belonging: A Journey of Love", mentions about her son and Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi, “I heard the baby's first cry as he was placed in the incubator. Later Rajiv took me to see him, a tiny, perfectly formed boy, with thick, black hair and long, slim fingers. We gazed at him together, Rajiv's arm around my shoulder. We fell in love with him immediately”. Sonia and Rahul seen in this file image dated, Dec. 27, 2025. | Photo: PTI/Atul Yadav
Congress MP Sonia Gandhi, in her memoir "Belonging: A Journey of Love", mentions towards the end of 1973, Sanjay Gandhi was introduced to Maneka Gandhi, “a pretty and vivacious girl, ten years younger than him and still a minor”. Sonia and Maneka seen in this file image dated, April 14, 2000. | Photo: PTI
Congress MP Sonia Gandhi, in her memoir "Belonging: A Journey of Love", talks at length about a reception hosted by then prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in former US president Bill Clinton's honour. Sonia and Vajpayee seen in this file image dated, Dec. 6, 2002. | Photo: PTI
Congress MP Sonia Gandhi, in her memoir "Belonging: A Journey of Love", says the Monica Lewinsky scandal had subsided when Bill Clinton came to India in 2000 but "old habits die hard", recalling the then US president every now and then "surreptitiously sizing up the more striking women" at a reception. Sonia and Clinton seen in this file image dated, March 21, 2000. | Photo: PTI
Congress MP Sonia Gandhi, in her memoir "Belonging: A Journey of Love", talks at length about a reception hosted by then prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in former US president Bill Clinton's honour. Sonia and Vajpayee seen in this file image dated, July 22, 2002. | Photo: PTI
Congress MP Sonia Gandhi mentions in her memoir "Belonging: A Journey of Love", about late former prime minister Manmohan Singh, that she picked Manmohan Singh to lead the country in 2004 as she thought of him as a person of "unquestionable" integrity with a deep understanding of governance, and that he would also assuage the doubts of many about the UPA's ability to manage and continue the policies that began years ago. Sonia and Manmohan seen in this file image dated, Sept. 19, 2004. | Photo: PTI
Congress MP Sonia Gandhi, in her memoir "Belonging: A Journey of Love", while pointing out the separation of powers between the party and government, also narrates an anecdote of how former president Pranab Mukherjee once hinted at his desire to be PM. Sonia and Pranab seen in this file image, dated Dec. 19, 2010. | Photo: PTI/Shahbaz Khan
Congress MP Sonia Gandhi, in her memoir "Belonging: A Journey of Love", says ideological forces behind Prime Minister Narendra Modi are undermining a system that for close to 80 years has held intact a diverse population, a tapestry of different languages, beliefs, and customs in a delicate web of unity. Sonia and Modi seen in this file image dated, Oct. 2, 2019. | Photo: PTI/Arun Sharma
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